‘I will break your jaw’ man (31) told another father at a football match in Lurgan, Craigavon court hears

Narberth Purzycki, aged 31, of Portlec Place, Lurgan, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court last Wednesday charged with harassment and assault causing actual bodily harm.

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Police received a report of an assault at Centrepoint in Lurgan on August 23 last year.

“The defendant told the injured party ‘I will break your jaw’ and struck him to the left side of his face causing him to fall to the ground,” a Prosecutor revealed, adding there was medical information concluding the injured party suffered a concussion and reddening to his eye.

“Following this incident, on the 9th of September 2024 the defendant shouted at the injured party in the presence of his wife and children,” said the Prosecutor who said she wouldn’t read the “foul language” in court.

A similar incident happened on September 14 when the defendant “shouted abuse” at the injured party using “foul language”.

On September 18 last year, the defendant was with another person and again “foul language” was “shouted” at the injured party as they drove past.

The defendant was also seen outside the injured party’s house on August 28 last year playing “an abusive song in the Polish language full of insults and threats”.

Purzycki’s barrister Mr Damien Halleron said his client has been in the jurisdiction for 10 years and has no record.

"There is a clear genesis as to how this actually happened. It's not uncommon enough for tempers to overspill and flare on a football field. It was captured on CCTV,” he said.

"He never denied that he struck him,” said Mr Halleron. "It's clear that this has over-spilled to outside of their children's school, and that's where some of the allegations for harassment are alleged to have happened.

"Clearly he hasn’t been able to control his anger in the first instance and secondly this has rumbled on," he said, adding that the men were not known to each other beforehand.

He raised a concern about a proposed Restraining Order as both men have reason to be at their children’s schools.

Mr Halleron said his client had been in full time employment since his arrival in this jurisdiction but was recently laid off.

The barrister added Purzycki has two young children and engaged to be married. However he is “existing at the moment on state benefits”.

"These parties have no reason to have contact with each other,” he said.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: “The aggravating features of this case are clear. There is the unprovoked assault in a sporting context which has caused your victim injury. That is then added to by the harassment of the victim and indeed of his wider family which no doubt compounds and enhances the effect on your victim and his family.”

Purzycki was given a Probation Order for 18 months to focus on “any potential anger management issues”. He was ordered to carry out 100 hours Community Service. He was also ordered to pay the victim £500 compensation.

There was also a Restraining Order for 18 months against the defendant who is not to contact the victim or his family.